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Vacuworx celebrates 25th anniversary; Grundfos celebrates the 50th anniversary of its U.S. operations; 120Water selected to manage the data and submittal of Georgia’s lead service line (LSL) inventories; and more!
Russ Ford named 2024 MVP of underground infrastructure industry
(UI) — Russ Ford, a noted infrastructure expert, has been selected as the Most Valuable Professional of the underground infrastructure industry for 2024. Ford, a senior associate at Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam Inc., will be honored at a special luncheon on March 19 at the annual Underground Infrastructure Conference (UIC).
San Antonio Water System appoints first Hispanic woman as Chief Operating Officer
San Antonio native Andrea Huizar Beymer will oversee all aspects of operations for the utility.
Jim Agnew’s vision continues to inspire: Celebrating his enduring legacy at Inrock
Inrock wishes Jim Agnew a hearty congratulations on his HDD Hall of Fame induction. His contributions to the HDD industry are only outmatched by the positive effect he left on everyone he came across.
PPI presents Donna Stoughton with lifetime achievement award
(UI) — The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI) presented Donna Stoughton with its Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her many years and vast contributions to the industry.
AGA Chair sees future shaped by education, innovation
(UI) — Sitherwood, who plans to retire from Spire this December, sat down with Underground Infrastructure to discuss her career, her outlook for the natural gas industry and her work as the 2023 chair of the American Gas Association (AGA).
Nominate now for the UI Awards
(UI) — Nominations for the second-annual Underground Infrastructure Awards (UIAs) are open. The Awards are a fantastic way to celebrate innovations and individuals that made a significant contribution to the market within the past year.
James Q. Crowe, fiber optic, telecommunications pioneer dies at 74
Crowe Company announced that James Q. Crowe, a technology and telecommunications visionary who spearheaded the fiber optic telecommunications revolution, died July 2nd in Paradise Valley, Arizona, after a battle with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Primoris welcomes two industry experts to utilities segment
Primoris Services Corporation has welcomed two industry experts to its power delivery line of business within its Utilities segment. James Pratt will serve as President of Power Delivery, and Michael Luckey has joined as Senior Vice President of Major Projects.
Rehab News
(UI) — The regional manager changes at Avanti and Aegion acquires trenchless water rehabilitation provider Infraspec Services.
Gulf Energy Information appoints new President
Andy McDowell, formerly Senior Vice President of Media and an employee of the company since 2005, will become President. In his new role, McDowell will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the company.
Middlesex Water president, CEO Dennis Doll announces retirement
(UI) — Dennis W. Doll, Middlesex Water Co.’s president and CEO, has announced a plan to retire at age 65. Doll’s retirement is planned for December 31, 2023, or when a successor is duly named and on board.
Business People
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PPI’s Municipal Advisory Board honors HDPE expert with scholarship program
When attendance is approved by the utility, the Eric Shaffer Memorial Award pays the tuition for the MAB-conducted Fusion Seminar, where students learn from experts and receive hands-on training in the proper fusion and electrofusion methods for HDPE water piping systems.
USIC names Trent Bowers as new chief commercial officer
(UI) — USIC, the leader in underground infrastructure damage prevention, has announced the appointment of Trent Bowers as chief commercial officer. USIC serves more than 1,400 utilities and municipalities throughout 48 states.
Tidewater Utilities names Bruce E. Patrick as executive vice president
(UI) — Tidewater Utilities Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Middlesex Water Co., has named Bruce E. Patrick, P.E., as the company’s executive vice president on April 5. Serving Delaware since 1964, Tidewater specializes in a full complement of water and wastewater services.
Primoris Services appoints new President of Utilities segment
Colt Moedl has over twenty years of experience in the utility construction industry, during which he has overseen the delivery of large-scale projects for prominent power delivery and energy infrastructure entities across the United States.
Steve Gearhart retires from Vortex Companies Division, CIPP Corp.
(UI) — CIPP Corp., a Vortex Company, has announced the retirement of Steve Gearhart, a founding partner of CIPP Corp. Vortex veteran and Regional Vice President-Services, Connor Collier, has been named vice president of CIPP Corp. and will lead the company in its next evolution of growth.
Business People
Latest industry news
Northwest Pipe Company unanimously elects Irma Lockridge to its board of directors
(UI) — Northwest Pipe Co., a leading manufacturer of water-related infrastructure, has announced the appointment of Irma Lockridge to the company’s Board of Directors, effective February 22, 2023. Lockridge’s background includes senior-level roles with predominantly Fortune 100 and 500 organizations, and she currently holds the position of chief people officer at CoorsTek, a global leader in technical ceramics.
DCA President Kevin Parker Puts His Passion into Processes
(UI) — While management systems and operator qualification programs might seem like dull fare from a distance, these processes have proven essential to improving the safety, quality and consistency of construction projects. Parker’s passion and decades of experience at Mears made perfect timing for his term as president of the Distribution Contractors Association, whose safety management system template and operator qualification integrity process ranked among DCA’s top priorities in 2022.
James B. Stallings, Jr. to resign from UGI Corporation’s Board of Directors
Mr. Stallings remarked, “It has been a pleasure to serve on the UGI Board. I have appreciated the dedication and collegiality of my fellow directors and the opportunity to contribute to UGI’s success.”
USIC names Richard Batelaan as new chief operating officer
(UI) — USIC, the leader in underground infrastructure damage prevention, has announced the appointment of Richard Batelaan as chief operating officer. Batelaan will report directly to president and CEO Mike Ryan and will lead the company’s operations, which span 48 states with a field workforce including over 10,000 locate technicians.
Jackson, Mississippi appoints new Public Works Director to improve troubled water system
City Engineer Robert Lee was named interim director of the Jackson Public Works Department Friday as Jackson begins a nationwide search to find a permanent candidate to fill the position.
Volvo Construction Equipment announces changes to executive management team
(UI) — In finance, Klara Eiritz has been appointed head of finance to drive all accounting and financial planning-related matters within Volvo Construction Equipment. Philippe Henriette has been appointed head of strategy and business development.
Brown and Caldwell names Susan Gehoski as new chief people officer
(UI) — Brown and Caldwell has announced that Susan Gehoski has joined the leading environmental engineering and construction services firm as senior vice president and its new chief people officer.
Business People
Latest industry news
Primoris Services appoints Chad Haxton as chief information officer
(UI) — Primoris Services Corp. (Primoris) has appointed Chad Haxton as chief information officer, the company announced on Jan. 31. Haxton joined Primoris in 2019 as senior vice president of information technology to lead the organization’s digital strategy encompassing data analytics, business intelligence, system development, cybersecurity, and technical services.
Vortex Companies promotes Wesley Kingery to COO
Kingery will lead the development of a cross-collaboration strategy between Vortex’s Services and Products divisions to strengthen customer relationships, increase sales, and improve overall service and product quality.
Dr. Vahid Zarezadeh joins LAN’s stormwater division as project manager
(UI) — Vahid Zarezadeh, PhD, PE, CFM, has joined engineering and program management firm Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam Inc. (LAN) as a project manager for the stormwater practice, the company announced on Jan. 17.
- Deadline to submit abstracts for Underground Infrastructure Conference's 30th anniversary education program extended to July 19
- Drilling under the LSU campus
- OSHA investigation launched after worker found unconscious in Kansas City, Mo., sewer pipe
- 26th annual directional drilling survey: More fuel on the fire
- Restoring power to Minnesota’s northwest angle
- Vermeer Debuts New Horizontal Directional Drill
- Sewer maintenance: Myth-busting, best-practice training
- Berkeley pushes PG&E to bury power lines to mitigate wildfire risk
- Houston faces hurdles in transitioning to underground power lines amid severe weather concerns
- Calgary declares state of emergency over water pipeline repairs